Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Ross McCormack in a £12m deal from Fulham. The Championship goal-machine has been added to the Villans as they attempt to launch a promotion bid after a demoralising season in the Premier League.
Aston Villa had been woeful throughout last season which culminated in their relegation for the first time since Premier League’s inception in 1992-93 as we know it. The main problem was a complete absence of leadership in the team. No one was able to put a hand up and take responsibility of inspiring the players.
While it has been a crushing blow understandably, the club had to pick itself up and try to live up to the goodwill the club has built in previous decades. One of the major change they went through was when the Dr. Tony Xia, a Chinese businessman took over the club from its previous owner American Randy Lerner who had been much criticised lately.
McCormack started his career with Scottish Premier League club Rangers in 2003, going on loan to League One side Doncaster Rovers in January 2006. At the end of the season, he was released by Rangers and joined fellow SPL side Motherwell. In 2008 McCormack joined Championship side Cardiff City upon the expiry of his contract. In 2010 he moved to Championship rivals Leeds United for a fee of around £350,000. McCormack became team captain of Leeds but moved to Fulham in July 2014 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £11 million.
The Championship veteran will bring undoubted pedigree and will be a vital addition to the Villa side. He has fought and won numerous battles in the second tier and will be determined to help Villa achieve promotion and realise his dream of playing in the Premier League aswell. His 116 goals and 56 assists in 306 games in the Championship bear testament to the sure-shot goals he will provide the maligned club.
Aston Villa fans were visibly delighted and with a fearsome strike-force of Ayew, McCormack and Gestede, many believe they would be able to make a fight for the top 6 in the Championship.
@mccabe305 aye he kept Leeds and Fulham up singlehandedly last few seasons
— Robbie Jamieson (@robbiej2906) August 4, 2016
.@AVFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/rrIZnLBuaA
— Joe Ryan (@JoeRyan365) August 4, 2016
@AVFCOfficial @gerrypimm Has he demanded a contract extension and improved terms yet? He will. McContract. Great finisher though.
— Tony Watts (@Tonywauk) August 4, 2016
@caazbucket @AVFCOfficial him Ayew and Gestede as strikers in the championship nice one bruvvaaaaa
— Matt (@Acqulesce_) August 4, 2016
@AVFCOfficial photoshop. From our experience it will take a month to work off his holiday sausage tits but when he does he’s a good talent.
— Colin Bennett (@ColBennettH4) August 4, 2016
@AVFCOfficial McCormack’s on fire ???? your defence is terrified ☝????⚽ La la la la la la ????
— mr_spud_gsxr (@MrSpudBandit) August 4, 2016
@AVFCOfficial @Tonyshorse24 12 fucking million pounds for Ross McCormack!!! Football is officially broke pic.twitter.com/EqWVYJWt6t
— Dean Blakey-Tew (@Deanobt) August 4, 2016
@AVFCOfficial @LUFC this is how to do transfers. 1st news yesterday, completed today. Didn’t take weeks of dicking around. Take note #lufc
— Jon Cuthbert (@joncuthbert70) August 4, 2016
@AVFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/7yi2DAkUqK
— sim.☄ (@SiSi_Simone_) August 4, 2016
